Elise and I hope this message find everyone healthy and ready to come back to Agudath Achim synagogue physically. At this point we are still video streaming all services, classes, minyans, and lectures. We hope everyone understands that we are prepared to open our physical facilities on a moment’s notice-which has not yet happened.

Unfortunately, it is with regret that our major fundraiser scheduled for June has been cancelled due to coronavirus. It will be rescheduled later. On a positive note, I asked Motti to reach out to our member and CPA Steve Arkin to apply for the SBA Payment Protection Program. I have been notified that due to their wonderful collaboration, we have been approved for $59,400 which will NOT need to be repaid if used for salaries and salary related items. Great teamwork and my thanks to both Motti and Steve Arkin.

The nominating committee has been hard at work filling the vacancies on the Board and for the retiring officers. Information will be forthcoming very soon, and elections will be held somehow at the June Board and congregational meetings.

I want to thank those of us who called and inspired our home bound, sick, and unable to shop members and helping with their needs. I appreciate our Board and congregation members who partook in this fabulous activity-it was well received by those in need and appreciated by your President and leaders.

I hope to see everyone soon and JUST BE SAFE AND SMART

Victor Shernoff, President

From the desk of the Rabbi

Helping Us Help You

From the beginning of my time here, I have been teaching and focusing on the importance of building relationships—relationships with each other, relationships between the congregation and our membership, relationships between our community and the larger Savannah community, relationships between each of us and God, and so on. One of the key characteristics of a relationship is that it is reciprocal. It is most successful when it goes in both directions, each partner giving and taking equally from the other. While a lack of balance in a relationship where one partner takes more and gives less is natural in a relationship, it is not sustainable long-term. Eventually, the other partner feels as if they are not getting anything out of that relationship anymore and give up on it.

At the same time, this is precisely one of the things many of us are craving right now—relationship. We are unable to meet with friends for games or lunch dates, we are unable to invite people over for dinner, and in many cases, we’re not even able to see family that we are accustomed to visiting regularly. We miss those personal connections which are such important, meaningful, and healthy parts of our lives.

For our part, we as a synagogue have been trying to do our small part to assist. Our board of directors and staff have been working to keep in regular contact with every member of our congregation; we have been live streaming our daily minyanim via Facebook Live to provide a space for prayer and comfort during this time (and, as of Friday night, May 1, will be live streaming Shabbat services via Zoom); our classes have all been moved to Zoom so that we can continue learning together; committee and board meetings are similarly moving to the same online platform to discuss synagogue affairs; our staff has begun working remotely to keep the synagogue running smoothly. We are doing what we can to be here for you—both now and in the future.

But as I mentioned earlier, we need you, as well. First, we need you to continue your support. That means both financially (as you are able during this period of uncertainty) and participation, attending our events. Second, we also need to hear what you need. If we are not providing something that you need, let us know so we can try to help; if we are providing things you don’t need, let us know that, too, so we can redirect our energy. We are here to be your support during this difficult time, but we need your help to make sure we’re providing the things you need.

The time will eventually come when this pandemic will pass. And in the meantime, we look forward to working—together, in relationship, with you—to do what we can to help you get through this.

We are in the midst of planning different options for a virtual Tikkun Leyl Shavuot to welcome the holiday. Please continue to check your email, enews,

and Facebook for more information as we get closer.

Friday, May 29--1st Day Shavuot

9 am Shaharit

6 pm Minhah/Kabbalat Shabbat/Ma'ariv

8:06 pm Candle Lighting

Shabbat, May 30--2nd Day Shavuot

9:45 am Shaharit

11:15 am Yizkor

9:07 pm Havdalah (via Facebook Live)

All of our regular classes will be held via Zoom, an online meeting platform.

If you'd like to join a class, please contact Rabbi Henkin for the class link.

Your Online Siddur

Shalom Hevre,

As we move towards online minyanim via Facebook Live, the Rabbinical Assembly has made PDF copies of the services available for those who may not have a siddur at home. If you would like to be able to pray with the text during our online services, please feel free to download the appropriate service and follow along during our virtual minyan.

Our site has been updated with PDFs of the Shabbat services for those who would like to follow along during our Zoom services.

If calling by phone, call (301)715-8592, when prompted, enter the meeting ID, 2126617884#, then dial 1#, and enter the password, 181818#.

If anyone has any questions, please let us know.

Hopefully all are healthy and keeping safe. Remember being home is not being stuck but safe.

Talmud Torah K'Neged Kulam - Torah Study for Everyone

1. Rabbinic Literature Study Group (Thursday afternoons, 2:00-3:15 pm): Take a look into the rabbinic mind and how the rabbis interpret the Torah in this weekly class.

2. Skeptics Study Group (second Thursday of every month, 11 a.m., hosted by Michael Konter): This group is for all of those who want to ask difficult questions about Judaism and/or seeking Jewish answers to the questions they have. Our next Skeptics class will be at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, May 14th online via Zoom.

3. Rabbis of the Mishnah Class will take a deep look into the Rabbis of the Mishnah; who they were and what they were thinking. Our next class will be held on Wednesday, May 13th at 10:15 a.m. via Zoom.

Please contact Motti for class link or email mottilocker@gmail.com

More classes coming soon, so stay tuned!

Have something you want to learn about but don't see a class about it?

Contact Rabbi Henkin at rabbihenkin@gmail.com or call the AA office.

All of our regular classes will be held via Zoom, an online meeting platform. If you'd like to join a class, please contact Rabbi Henkin for the class link.

Shalom School is now meeting Online!

all our students tune up on Sunday mornings for a session with their teacher and a group Tefilah.

A new learning opportunity for all of us and a great way to keep Jewish education going!